Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: A Happy, Cozy Time
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We made our way to a place called the Meadow Cafe.
As we arrived, the children's eyes widened in amazement. I could hear their breaths trembling with excitement.
Even Red, who must have been to many places, seemed quite surprised by the sight before her.
‘I never thought they could replicate it so perfectly. This is a bit surprising even for me.’
It was a cafe that lived up to its name.
A vast, sprawling meadow.
Looking up, I saw a clear blue sky and pristine clouds. Sunlight, so real it was dazzling, poured into the entire space.
When the wind blew, the beautiful sound of the meadow rippling like waves could be heard.
The mechanical animals roaming the field occasionally made sounds.
Though it looked and felt real, it was an artificial space created by the combined power of science and magic.
“Wow~ This is amazing!”
“Somehow, it feels so cozy and warm.”
“I heard there used to be many places like this long ago….”
But the children didn't care that it was fake. No one here did.
The kids looked around, taking in the scenery with eyes full of wonder.
Seeing their sparkling eyes, a bittersweet smile crept onto my face without me realizing.
It was only natural; such scenery is rare in this world.
You might find something like it in the Mid-City or the Core, but those from the Outskirts could only experience it through books or videos.
A sight that was commonplace where I once lived was anything but for the people here.
The children were now experiencing, in some small way, the scenes they had only ever seen in books and videos, and seeing them so satisfied and excited by even this made a corner of my heart ache.
I couldn't help but think how much better it would have been if this were a better world.
‘This is why I don't really like coming to places like this. I get uncharacteristically sentimental, and it just sours my mood.’
As I was lost in thought, Red suddenly spoke to me.
“Lily, you don’t like it here?”
What is she, a mind reader? My face is hidden behind a mask.
When I looked up at Red, she just offered a faint smile. There was a hint of loneliness in it.
I shook my head without a moment's hesitation.
It wasn't that I disliked it.
I was just overcome with a sentimentality that only someone who had lived in a peaceful world could feel.
Red patted my head again.
It felt like she was treating me like a child again. I pushed her hand away to tell her to stop and tapped her leg with my soft fist.
For some reason, she found my actions amusing and couldn't hold back her laughter.
“I wonder what it would feel like to sing in a place like this….”
Lena murmured beside me.
Her voice trembled slightly, as if she were deeply moved.
She stood there, mouth slightly agape, lost in the moment.
Then, her expression turned serious as if she had made up her mind. She turned, walked over to Red, and tugged at the hem of her clothes.
“Sister.”
Red bent her knees, and Lena leaned in to whisper in her ear. She then pointed to a large tree some distance away.
Red nodded.
“Everyone, before we go to the cafe, let’s go over there. Lena says she has a surprise show for us.”
The children gasped in excitement and we all moved toward the tree.
We entered the large patch of shade cast by the lush branches and leaves, and the children sat down one by one. I sat down beside them.
Lena stepped forward, turned, and glanced over everyone’s faces.
She demurely clasped her hands in front of her.
The dense branches and leaves blocked most of the sunlight, but a thin ray happened to break through a gap, shining down right where she stood.
Lena took a deep breath and began to sing.
It was the same gentle song she always sang.
A soft melody flowed from her small lips and echoed through the air.
‘She really has a talent for it. If this were a peaceful world, she could have aimed to be an idol….’
For a child, Lena sang very well. Not only that, but her voice held something mystical. It was almost like magic.
It warmed the heart.
The synergy with a place so full of warmth like this amplified that feeling even more.
When the song ended, a round of applause erupted from all around.
Startled, I turned my head to see that a crowd had gathered.
It seemed that people nearby had heard her singing and were drawn in.
Lena's face flushed red, and she flailed her arms, not knowing what to do.
Still, she didn't forget to thank the audience who had enjoyed her performance.
Lena bowed repeatedly to the crowd in gratitude, then quickly retreated from her makeshift stage.
In high spirits, we headed for the cafe.
***
Several log cabins sat atop a hill.
We chose one and went inside, where a guide robot greeted us warmly.
Following the robot's lead, we sat down at an empty wooden table.
“Here is the menu. Once you have decided, please press this button, and a waiter will come to take your order. I hope you have a peaceful time.”
I opened the menu.
A quick scan revealed a wide variety of items.
There was a mix of common snacks and treats that were hard to find outside.
And as expected, the prices were quite steep. So steep, in fact, that my eyes twitched faintly.
‘Selling snacks at exorbitant prices in places like this is the same over there as it is here. Just how much is this? I was wondering why there were so many empty seats, but now I see why.’
It seemed I wasn't the only one daunted by the prices; the other children's expressions weren't very bright either.
The kids started sneaking glances at Red.
Their eyes asked if it was really okay to order anything.
Normally, one might scratch their head in embarrassment and quietly get up to leave, but not Red.
Her expression showed it wasn't a problem at all.
“Pick whatever you want. If you don’t, I’ll choose for you.”
That's Red for you!
So generous!
I inwardly threw my hands up and jumped for joy, cheering.
Their faces brightening, the children began to choose from the menu.
“What are you getting?”
“This one looks delicious.”
“What kind of snack is this?”
“My head is spinning….”
The menu had pictures and descriptions for each item.
I recognized many of the snacks from my past life, but the children didn't. Naturally, their eyes sparkled with curiosity as they looked at the menu.
“What are you going to pick, Lily?”
Hmm? I'm not sure.
To convey that, I pretended to stroke my chin in response to Lena's question.
And to show that it was a difficult choice, I pressed my fingers to my temples and gently shook my head from side to side.
“Me too. It’s so hard to choose.”
I agree.
I nodded.
But we couldn't deliberate forever.
One by one, the children started making their choices. I also picked what seemed like the best option.
*Beeep—.*
Red pressed the button on the table, and a moment later, a waiter robot arrived.
“Have you decided on your order?”
“Let’s see. One Catharsis Giant Pudding, one Tricolor Soft Long Ice Cream….”
Red listed the items the children had chosen one by one. She also added a few extra snacks that were hard to find outside.
The children let out a cheer.
In my imagination, I showered colorful flower petals over Red's head.
She really is incredibly generous.
“I can’t wait to see what it looks like.”
“I wonder what it’ll taste like.”
“Looks like Lily is really excited too. Her shoulders are bouncing up and down.”
Huh? Excited?
I almost scoffed at the children's observation.
I'm not a child, so why would I make such a fuss? I was just curious about how the snacks here would turn out.
I wanted to slam the table and protest, but the mentally mature me held back.
A little while later.
The waiter arrived with a cart full of food and began placing the dishes on our table one by one.
“““Wooooow~”””
I swallowed hard.
First off, the appearance and portions passed with flying colors!
They were definitely worth the high price.
The children tasted the snacks they had ordered.
After a taste, their faces twisted into goofy, ecstatic expressions.
And they all gave the same review.
“““Delicious!”””
I shifted my mask to the side to make it easier to eat and cut into the 5-layer pancake I had ordered with a knife and fork.
It was fluffy and melted in my mouth. A sweet flavor burst across my tongue.
Mmm, this is so good.
I can't believe it tastes this good. Amazing.
Everyone began to eat their snacks excitedly. It was a happy time.
Of course it was; snacks are happiness itself.
The children exchanged their happiness with one another, sharing their treats.
I got to try a variety of snacks too.
We ate so voraciously that the plates were soon empty. There was one egg tart left, and I went to spear it with my fork.
*Clink.*
But it was blocked, clashing against seven other forks.
It seemed the other children had the same idea.
“““…”””
The tension was palpable. Invisible sparks flew.
‘Looks like no one is planning to back down.’
It felt like a war was about to break out over who would get it, and just as things were about to escalate...
“Now, now, that’s enough. I’ll eat the last one.”
Red took the last remaining egg tart and ate it.
Small sighs of disappointment escaped the children's lips. But they didn't whine.
The atmosphere was one of resignation—if it was for Red, they couldn't complain.
Still, an undeniable look of regret lingered on their faces.
Red smiled.
“I’ll buy you all something else instead.”
*Beeep—.*
Red ordered eight cups of the special milk that could only be drunk here, and one coffee.
The children beamed.
The mood was warm and cheerful.
I turned my head to look outside for a moment.
The sprawling meadow filled my vision.
‘I know it’s all fake, but maybe because I’ve been cooped up in the city for so long, being here still makes me feel at ease.’
A rare moment of happiness in the city.
There are so few warm and lively places.
So I silently prayed that, for as long as we were here, this moment wouldn't be broken.
Surely there wouldn't be some tactless, rotten person who would ruin a mood like this.
If there was, I would never forgive them.
***
Meanwhile, at the same time, somewhere in the zoo.
Isaac, wearing a mask and a hat, sat on a bench, looking at an animal in a glass enclosure. But there was no interest for the animal in his eyes.
He had something far more important to deal with than some fake creature.
Just then, a mother and child walked by.
The child’s eyes widened as if in recognition, but Isaac raised a finger to his lips as if to say it was a secret.
A gesture for secrecy.
The child nodded.
The mother and child continued on their way.
Isaac looked at his phone.
A text had arrived.
‘The plan starts now.’
A sinister smile spread across Isaac's face.
But hidden by the mask, no one noticed.